Seth Maness

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Seth Maness

| image = Sethmaness2013.jpg

| image_size = 250

| caption = Maness with the St. Louis Cardinals

| team =

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|10|14}}

| birth_place = Pinehurst, North Carolina, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 3

|debutyear = 2013

|debutteam = St. Louis Cardinals

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = June 4

|finalyear = 2017

|finalteam = Kansas City Royals

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 18–10

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.21

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 156

| teams =

St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2013}}–{{mlby|2016}})
Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2017}})

}}

Michael Seth Maness ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|eɪ|n|ɛ|s}} {{respell|MAY|ness}};{{cite web|url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130429&content_id=46115252&vkey=pr_stl&c_id=stl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514171252/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130429&content_id=46115252&vkey=pr_stl&c_id=stl|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 14, 2014|title=Cards purchase Seth Maness from Memphis|work=St. Louis Cardinals}} born October 14, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals.

Early life and amateur career

Maness was born in Pinehurst, North Carolina. The son of Michael Maness and Jan Andrews Benton, he has two siblings—Bailey and Tanner.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecupirates.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/maness_seth00.html|title=Player Bio – Seth Maness|publisher=East Carolina University Sports Information Department|year=2010|access-date=December 2, 2012}} He attended Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, North Carolina, where he played for the school's baseball team.{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RCJB&p_theme=rcjb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11709B9051B226C0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=The Richmond County Daily Journal: Search the Archive |publisher=Nl.newsbank.com |date=April 26, 2006 |access-date=September 7, 2012}} {{Subscription required|date=September 2012}} As a sophomore, he earned first team All-State and conference Player of the Year honors. His father served as one of his coaches.[http://www.news-leader.com/article/20120814/SPORTS02/308140030/springfield-cardinals-seth-maness/ Springfield Cardinals Seth Maness] News Leader {{dead link|date=July 2023}}

File:Seth Maness-1.jpg in 2011]]

Following high school, Maness enrolled at East Carolina University, majoring in accounting. He played college baseball for the East Carolina Pirates where he became a four-time first team All-Conference USA performer (2008–11). In 2009, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2009&T=Bourne_Braves |title=2009 Bourne Braves |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}} He finished his ECU career as the Pirates career leader in wins (38), strike outs (321), innings pitched (411.2), and games started (61). In 2010 Maness was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Year.{{cite web |url=http://www.jdnews.com/sports/maness-78718-named-seth.html |title=ECU's Maness named top C-USA pitcher | maness, named, seth – Sports – News Source for Jacksonville, North Carolina |publisher=jdnews.com |date=May 25, 2010 |access-date=September 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615060326/http://www.jdnews.com/sports/maness-78718-named-seth.html |archive-date=June 15, 2010 |df=mdy-all }} The Florida Marlins drafted Maness in the 41st round of the 2010 MLB draft, but he did not sign.

Professional career

=St. Louis Cardinals=

The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Maness in the 11th round, with the 350th overall selection, of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed with them.

Maness started his professional career with the Batavia Muckdogs of the Low-A New York–Penn League. After appearing in the All-Star Game, the Cardinals promoted him to the Palm Beach Cardinals of the High-A Florida State League. Maness finished the season with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Single-A Midwest League.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecupirates.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/110111aaa.html |title=Maness and Roller Take Home Organizational Awards – East Carolina Official Athletic Site |publisher=Ecupirates.com |date=November 1, 2011 |access-date=September 7, 2012}}

Maness is noted for his control: in {{frac|169|2|3}} innings pitched in 2012, he allowed only ten walks.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=maness001mic |title=Seth Maness Minor League Statistics & History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=October 14, 1988 |access-date=November 16, 2013}} Maness was named to the Texas League postseason All-Star team in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120828&content_id=37481252¬ebook_id=37483104&vkey=notebook_stl&c_id=stl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830105815/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120828&content_id=37481252¬ebook_id=37483104&vkey=notebook_stl&c_id=stl |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 30, 2012 |title=Slew of Cards prospects earn Minor League awards |publisher=Stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com |date= |access-date=September 7, 2012}} On November 30, 2012, Maness was named the Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher of the Year. His efforts on the mound helped the Double-A Springfield Cardinals as they were named Minor League Team of the Year by Baseball America.{{cite web|last=Langosch|first=Jenifer|url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121130&content_id=40476838&vkey=news_stl&c_id=stl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205004213/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121130&content_id=40476838&vkey=news_stl&c_id=stl|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 5, 2012|title=Cards recognize Minor League Players of Year|publisher=MLB.com via St. Louis Cardinals website|date=November 30, 2012|access-date=December 1, 2012}} On April 29, 2013, Maness was called up to the major leagues due to the Cardinals' struggling bullpen.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130429&content_id=46112860&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |title=Cardinals send a message to Rzepczynski | MLB.com: News |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |date=April 29, 2013 |access-date=November 16, 2013}}

File:Sethmannescards2015.jpg

Maness made his MLB debut on May 3. He pitched one inning in his debut, against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park in the eighth inning, giving up no hits, and getting three consecutive groundouts (the third out hit to him) for his debut, following the seventh inning debut of Carlos Martinez who was brought up earlier that day.{{cite web |url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_03_slnmlb_milmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=stl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925060940/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_03_slnmlb_milmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=stl |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 25, 2013 |title=Miller delivers sharp outing to lift Cards over Crew |work=MLB.com |date=May 3, 2013}} On May 15, 2013, he became the first Cardinal rookie pitcher since 1900 with three relief wins in his first five major league appearances.{{cite web|last=Goold |first=Derrick |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/will-carpenter-start-or-relieve/article_337da5e4-13c9-58ef-9ab5-eef49929536c.html |title=Will Carpenter start or relieve? : Sports |publisher=Stltoday.com |date=May 17, 2013 |access-date=November 16, 2013}} In 66 games with St. Louis, Maness went 5–2 with 15 holds, 1 save and a 2.32 ERA, striking out 35 in 62 innings. He led the team in ERA.

Maness pitched five effective innings in the Cardinals postseason run, posting an earned run average of 1.80. The one earned run he surrendered was a three-run home run to Jonny Gomes in Game 4 of the 2013 World Series.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32639/seth-maness|title=Seth Maness|work=ESPN.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24148800/gif-jonny-gomes-breaks-game-4-open-with-threerun-homer|title=VIDEO: Jonny Gomes' 3-run shot breaks World Series Game 4 open|work=CBSSports.com}} The Cardinals would not lead in a World Series game after this home run, falling in six games.

An arbitration-eligible player prior to the 2016 season, Maness and the Cardinals agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract on January 15, 2016.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/14578286/st-louis-cardinals-re-sign-trevor-rosenthal-seth-maness-brandon-moss |title=Cardinals to re-sign Trevor Rosenthal, Seth Maness, Brandon Moss |work=ESPN.com |date=January 15, 2016 |access-date=January 16, 2016}}

After yielding a 6.39 ERA for the season, and his velocity on all four pitches down 2-3 mph, he landed on the DL for the first time in his career on May 14, after an exam revealed an inflammation on his right (pitching) elbow. He was having pitching difficulties, getting hit hard in his previous {{frac|1|3}} inning work against the Anaheim Angels on May 12. For the season, he had a 6.39 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in {{frac|12|2|3}} innings.{{cite web |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/178170268/seth-maness-to-dl-instead-of-minor-leagues |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516093738/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/178170268/seth-maness-to-dl-instead-of-minor-leagues |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 16, 2016 |title=Maness, staying with Cards, lands on DL |work=MLB.com |date=May 14, 2016}} On August 16, Maness was placed on the disabled list with an elbow strain. It was later revealed that Maness would need to undergo Tommy John surgery, effectively ending his 2016 season and likely for most of the 2017 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/midwest/story/st-louis-cardinals-place-seth-maness-on-dl-recall-sam-tuivailala-from-memphis-081616|title=Cardinals lose Maness to Tommy John surgery|date=August 16, 2016}} After a medical review of his injury, Maness had surgery on August 18, to fix his Ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint instead of Tommy John surgery ligament replacement, drastically reducing his recovery time from 12–15 months to 6–8 months, which would make him available for spring training in 2017.{{cite web |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/196513002/cadinals-seth-maness-undergoes-ucl-surgery |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821040733/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/196513002/cadinals-seth-maness-undergoes-ucl-surgery/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 21, 2016 |title=Maness has UCL, not Tommy John, surgery |work=MLB.com |date=August 19, 2016}}

The Cardinals non-tendered him on December 2, 2016, making him a free agent.{{cite web |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/210131702/cardinals-non-tender-seth-maness-becomes-fa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203131046/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/210131702/cardinals-non-tender-seth-maness-becomes-fa/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 3, 2016 |title=Cardinals non-tender reliever Maness |work=MLB.com |date=December 2, 2016}}

=Kansas City Royals=

On February 13, 2017, the Kansas City Royals announced that Maness signed a minor league contract, with a $1.25 million incentive for reaching the major leagues.{{Cite web|url=http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/215864352/royals-seth-maness-agree-to-minor-league-deal/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213192828/http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/215864352/royals-seth-maness-agree-to-minor-league-deal/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 13, 2017|title=Royals, Seth Maness agree to Minor League deal|website=Kansas City Royals|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-13}} The Royals promoted Maness to the major leagues on May 10.{{cite news| last=Thompson | first=Jaylon | title=In need of arms, Royals add two relievers and designate Christian Colon for assignment |newspaper=The Kansas City Star | date=10 May 2017 | url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article149762054.html | access-date=17 July 2023}} He was designated for assignment on July 1, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers on July 7. He elected free agency on October 3.

On November 2, 2017, Maness re-signed with the Royals on a minor league contract. He began the 2018 season with Triple-A Omaha, logging a 4.63 ERA with 8 strikeouts across {{fraction|11|2|3}} innings pitched. Maness was released by the Royals organization on May 10, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/05/royals-release-seth-maness.html|title=Royals Release Seth Maness|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 10, 2018|access-date=May 10, 2018}}

=High Point Rockers=

On February 7, 2019, Maness signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{cite web|title=Rockers Sign Former Major League Pitcher Seth Maness|url=https://www.highpointrockers.com/news-blog/rockers-sign-former-major-league-pitcher-seth-maness|website=highpointrockers.com|date=February 7, 2019}} He made one start for the team, getting the win going after 6 innings and giving up 3 hits and 1 earned run (1.50 ERA) with 1 walk with 5 strikeouts.

=Texas Rangers=

On May 1, 2019, Maness's contract was purchased by the Texas Rangers and he was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.{{cite web|title=Rangers Purchase Maness Contract|url=https://www.highpointrockers.com/news_article/show/1017448|website=highpointrockers.com|date=May 2, 2019}} He produced an 8–4 record with a 5.38 ERA over 117 innings for Nashville and was named a 2019 Pacific Coast League All-Star.{{cite web|title=Sounds reliever scores PCL honor|url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/nashville-sounds/article/21084457/sounds-reliever-given-pcl-honor|website=NashvillePost.com|author=Ben Weinrib|date=August 28, 2019|access-date=September 16, 2019}} Maness elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2019|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/|access-date=August 16, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

On October 14, 2020, Maness announced his retirement from professional baseball.

Coaching career

In January 2022, Maness joined the UNC Wilmington men's baseball team as the Coordinator of Player Development and spent the entire Spring 2022 season with the Seahawks. On August 18, 2022, Maness was hired by Florida State University as a Graduate Assistant coaching under Link Jarrett, Maness' assistant coach during his collegiate playing career at East Carolina.{{cite web|title=Seth Maness Names Baseball Graduate Assistant|url=https://seminoles.com/seth-maness-named-baseball-graduate-assistant/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818173653/https://seminoles.com/seth-maness-named-baseball-graduate-assistant/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 18, 2022|website=seminoles.com|date=August 18, 2022|access-date=August 19, 2022}} In July 2023, Maness was hired as the pitching coach at UNC Greensboro.{{cite web|title=Seth Maness UNCG Staff Directory Page|url=https://uncgspartans.com/staff-directory/seth-maness/325/|website=uncgspartans.com}}